Spring loaded roller assembly



Nov. 11,1952 G a BRWTON 2,617,509

SPRING LOADED ROLLER ASSEMBLY Filed July 17. 195ol Patented Nov. 11, 1952 SPRING LOADED ROLLER ASSEMBLY Glenn B. Britton, Hannibal, Mo., assignor to International Shoe Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application July 17, 1950, serial No. 174,234

(ci. 19e-35) 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to press beds, and more particularly to press beds provided with means for facilitating insertion and withdrawal of mold plates from the press beds,`and, with greater particularity, the invention relates to spring loaded rollers mounted in apress bed, or other like mold part or equivalent structure, which rollers normally project beyond the surface of the part to which they are attached, but are yieldably so mounted, whereby, when, the compression elements are applied to the parts during operation of the press, they will yield inwardly so as to allow solid compression between the press ram, the work, and the bed.

Briefly, the invention comprises a novel arrangement for the vabove type machines, wherein a wheel type roller may be mounted in a socket with provision for maintaining the rotating alignment of the roller and providing means to urge the roller into a position where a portion of the rolling face thereof will project beyond the plane of the mounting socket, yet permitting the roller to be depressed completely into the socket by the application of sufficient pressure on the projecting portion of the rolling face of the roller.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a type of roller assemblyv which, when mounted in an appropriate bed plate of a press or similar machine, will permit a second plate to be placed thereupon and easily rolled and guided to a predetermined position with respect to the bed plate, and which will thereafter, in addition, permit the adjacent faces ofthe bed plate and the second plate to be brought together by drawing one toward the other, the rollers being thereby depressed into their mounting sockets.

- Specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide for such an installation in a press platen upon which mold plates appropriate for the pressure molding of rubber heelsv for shoes and the like may be disposed and thereafter pressed by power pressing means.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for the installation of a plurality of rollers thus mounted so as to facilitate the employn ment of automatic, power-operated displacement means for disposing a plate element, for example a` mold plate-having av plurality of mold cavities therein, upon a, bed plate or table assemblyfor example a press platen, or, for further example, an ejector table as described in oopending application Serial No. 174,233, filed July 17, 1950, executed concurrently herewith, and so as to permit adjacent faces of the plate element and of the bed plate or table assembly to be forcibly brought into pressure contact with one another, the rollers being depressed into their mounting sockets. y

The following description of construction and koperation' will clearly ldisclose the unique and novel features of the present "invention, and'will 'make apparentjits usefulapplications andadi Vantages.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a spring loaded roller assembly;

Figure 2 is a vertical elevation of the roller assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken generally along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional plan taken generally along the line 1 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a press platen in which is mounted a plurality of the roller assemblies of Figure 1, and shows, in phantom,` a mold plate resting thereupon;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken generally along the line 5-6 of Figure 5, and shows an installation of a spring loaded roller assembly in a press platen with a mold plate resting upon the roller;

Figure '7 is a vertical elevation, partially in section, showing a powerpress with press platens having spring loaded rollers disposed alternately with mold plates, the View being taken prior to the pressing operation, with the rollers therefor in a projecting position; and

Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure 7, but taken during the pressing operation, with the rollers therefor in a depressed position.

Referring to the drawing, particularly to Figures l, 2, 3, 4 and 6, the spring loaded roller assembly, generally shown at IG, includes a roller l2 of any suitable material, but preferably of hardened steel, having a rolling face I i and a central bore l5 into which is secured, as by pressing, a bearing sleeve I8 of brass, bronze, or the like. The bearing sleeve I8 has a length that eX,- ceeds the width of the roller I2 and is so secured as to extend equi-distantly beyond the parallel faces 2i) of the latter. n

This roller and sleeve assembly is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 22 which is, in turn, slidably mounted in diametrically opposed holes 26 in a cylindrical carrier 26 which has a slot 28 with parallel faces 30, in which slot 28 and be'- tween which faces 30 the roller and sleeve vassembly is disposed so as to rotate freely upon the shaft 22. The carrier 26 has an axiall bore -32 which lessen the possibility of the slot 28 ybecoming clogged with debris after a period of operation, and has also an endV portion 34 of reduced diameter which leaves a shoulder 36 for abutment of the active end of a compression spring 38. The carrier 26.is slidably received in a retainer 4d which is shaped like a cylindrical sleeve having diametrically opposed Vertical slots 42 into which the ends of the shaft 22 slidably extend. The uper ends of the slots S2 are rounded to conform to the shape of the shaft 22, and are so spaced from the plane of an upper rim' M of the retainer lill as to permit a portion of the rolling face I4 of the roller I2 to extend thereabove a predetermined distance, as shown in Figures 2, Sand 6, the slots G2 being of ample length, however, to permit the roller I2 to be depressed below the plane of the rim 44.

A portion of the rim 44 of the retainer 4o 1s removed, as best shown in Figure 2, to leave a segmental notch 45 having an upper face 48 and having also coextensive faces 50 in a plane normal to the mutual axis of the slots 42, and therefore parallel to the plane of rotation of the roller I2.

The spring loaded roller assembly l5 above described is adapted to be installed in a cylindrical socket such as 54 in a base member such as56 in Figure 6. In this illustration, the member 55 is a platen used in molding rubber heels and the like, and having steam holes 58 `which' are of no significance in respect to the present invention. The socket 54 has a depth greater than the maxi- !mum vertical dimension of the retainer 4i] to permit the slidable insertion of the latter therein so 'as to bring the upper rim 44 flush with an upper face 65 of the member 56. A pilot hole 52 having a diameter smaller than that of the socket 54 extends axially therefrom through the remaining depth. of the member 56, leaving a shoulder 52 for abutment ofthe inactive end of the 'spring 38. The spring loaded roller assembly I is retained in the socket 54 by a strip 555i disposed'in a notch S5 in the 'upper face 55 Yof the member 56 by means of screws 55. The notch 55 is so disposed with respect to the socket 54 as `to permit the strip 64 to overhang a segment of the socket 54, and thus to engage the notch i5 in the retainer 45 of the roller assembly l5. As is obvious from Figure 6, this not only retains the roller assembly vI0 in the socket 55, but also serves to maintain a constant rotating alignment of the roller l2.

Installed in the manner described, the roller l2 is urged by action of the spring 33 to its upper limit of travel as determined by the shaft 22 resting against the upper ends of the slots i2 and by abutment of the retainer d0 against the 'strip 64.

In this position, the rolling face lei lends support for a flat plate member such as a mold plate 10, thus disposing the plate iii in a position above the upper face 6G of the member 56 so as to facilitate its movement with respect to the member 56. If, however, it is desired to bring the plate 'i5 into contact with the upper face 6i) so as to be supported thereby, as in a pressing process for example, the application of a force tending to draw the plate 'i5 down onto the face BB will cause the roller I2 to be del0 in respective rows, and serving also as guide strips to'maintain nominal alignment of the plate 'I0 with the planes of rotation of the rollers I2.

Figures '7 and 8 illustrate one useful application of the spring loaded roller assembly i5, wherein a plurality of press platen members S similar to that shown in Figure 5, and also similarly equipped with roller assemblies i5, are disposed and supported in spaced relation one above the other in a press 'Z2 having a frame structure 'i5 to which are secured actuating cylinder assemblies 16 to raise a movable table 18. Mold plates 'such' as 10 are inserted into the press 12 so as to be disposed alternately with the platen members 56, this insertion and subsequent removal of the plates beings. greatly facilitated'by the roller assemblies l0 mounted in the platenmemthe rollers I2 are depressed as aforementioned to permit the desired compression of the stacked platen members 56 and plates 10, as shown in Figure 8. n

Another useful application of the present invention is described in copending application Serial No. 174,233, led July 17, 1950.

The foregoing description has disclosed a novel device having useful applications as described in addition to other uses which will be apparent to those skilled in the applicableart. The disclosures included therein are in no sense restrictive, and the substitution of equivalent principles and physical elements is viewed as coming within the scope of 'the present invention.

What is claimed-is:

l1. In a' base member having a surface,k rotatable means mounted in the base member, projecting from said surface, and rotatable in a plane. normal to the surface of the base member, said means being for the purpose of making rolling contact with a plate or the like thereby to support the plate or the like in a position of non-abutment with the said surface of the base member, mounting means for said rotatable means including yieldable means disposed in said plane of rotation and normally maintaining the rotatable meansprojecting asV aforesaid, but being yieldable whereby the application of a substantial force tending to cause abutment of said plate or the like with said surface of the base member may cause the aforesaid rotatable means to be depressed within the base member so as to permit the abutting relation aforesaid, said yieldable means being adapted to restore the aforesaid condition wherein the flat plate or the like maybe s'upported'by the said rotatable means upon the release of the said force tending to cause abutment.

2. A spring loaded roller assemb-lyadapted to socket mounting in a base member having an upper surface, said assembly including a wheel rotatable iny a vertical plane, means including-a sleeve-like member to maintain a constant alignment of said wheel in said vertical plane, said member including means to provide limited vertical translatory movement of said wheel in said plane, and resilient means disposed within said member acting to urge said wheel in a direction generally upwardly so as to permit a portion of a rolling face thereof to extend above an adjacent upper surface ofthe base member when the wheel is at the upper limit of said translatory movement said latter means being depressible to accommodate said wheel completely within-the base member upon the application of sufcient force to the rolling face thereof.

3. A spring loaded roller assembly adapted to socket mounting in a base member having an exterior surface, said assembly including a wheel rotatable in a vertical plane, a shaft for supporting said wheel, a cylindrical carrier for supporting the shaft, a sleeve-like retainer slidably receiving the carrier, the retainer having means cooperative with said shaft to maintain vsaid wheel in a constant plane of rotation While permitting limited Vtranslatory movement ofv said wheel within said plane of rotation, and spring means in coaxial abutment with said carrier-and acting thereagainst so as to urge said wheel toward a, position wherebyfa portion'of a rolling face of said wheel will extend beyondv adjacent exterior surfaces of the base member, saidfla'tter means being "de'pressible to acommod'ate sa'id Wheel completely Within the base member upon the application of sufficient force to the rolling face thereof.

4. A spring loaded roller assembly adapted to mounting in a base member having a cylindrical socket, said assembly comprising a rotatable wheel, a shaft upon which the wheel is mounted, a carrier to support the shaft, a retainer in which said carrier is slidably mounted, saidr retainer having means cooperative with the shaft so as to maintain the wheel in a constant plane of rotation while permitting translatory movement of the wheel Within said plane of rotation, said retainer being also adapted slidably to t a cylindrical socket in the aforesaid base member, means to retain the retainer in said socket including means to maintain the retainer against rotative movement within said socket, and spring means acting between the base member Aand the carrier whereby the wheel is urged to a position in which a portion of a rolling face thereof extends beyond adjacent exterior surfaces of the base member so as to provide rollable support for fiat plates and the like which may be disposed thereon, the said action of the spring means being subject to overpower by application of sufficient force tending to draw said flat plates and the like and said base element to a position of abutment whereby the wheel may be caused to occupy a position wherein no portion of the rolling face thereof will extend beyond adjacent exterior surfaces of the base element thereby permitting the base element to support the fiat plate or the like.

5. A spring loaded roller assembly adapted to mounting in a base member having a cylindrical socket, said assembly comprising a cylindrical sleeve adapted slidably to fit the cylindrical socket in the base member, said sleeve having at one end a notch and in the side wall thereof, so as to be diametricaily opposed one to the other, two longitudinal slots, a retainer secured to the base member and cooperating with said notch to retain the cylindrical sleeve within the cylindrical socket and at the same time to maintain the cylindrical sleeve against rotation within the cylindrical socket, a carrier longitudinally slidable within the cylindrical sleeve, said carrier containing a clevis having means to supporta shaft, a shaft supported by the carrier and cooperating with the slots in the cylindrical sleeve to maintain the shaft against precession while at the same time permitting translatory movement thereof along a central axis of the cylindrical sleeve, a Wheel disposed in the clevis of the carrier and mounted upon the shaft so as to be rotatable with respect to the axis thereof, said Wheel having a portion of its perimeter extending beyond the ends o-f the clevis, and a spring acting against the carrier and tending to slide the carrier longitudinally with respect to the cylindrical sleeve so as to dispose a portion of the perimeter of the wheel beyond adjacent surfaces of the base member which are substantially perpendicular to the axis of the socket thereby permitting the. perimeter of the wheel to make rolling contact with and to support a fiat plate or the like disposed substantially parallel to said adjacent surfaces, said action of said spring being at the same time subject to overpower whereby application of a sufoient force tending to cause abutment of the fiat plate or the like with the said adjacent surfaces will cause the wheel, the shaft, and the carrier to move in translatory motion longitudinally with respect to the cylindrical sleeve so as to dispose the wheel in a position wherein no portion thereof may extend beyond the aforesaid adjacent surfaces of the base element, thereby permitting the base element to support the flat plate or the like.

6. In a base member having a flat surface, a plurality of spring loaded roller assemblies mounted in the base member, each of said assemblies including a wheel rotatable in a plane normal to said surface of the base member, a cylindrical carrier mounting said wheel and adapted to dispose a portion of the perimeter thereof beyond the said surface of the base member to make rolling contact with a flat plate or the like, and yieldable spring means in coaxial abutment with said carrier for normally maintaining the wheels in projecting position as aforesaid, said spring means being subject to being overpowered wherein said wheels may be depressed within the base member, thereby to permit the said surface of the base member to support the at plate or the like.

7. In a base member having a flat surface, a plurality of spring loaded roller assemblies mounted in the base member, each of said assemblies including a sleeve-like retainer received in said base member, a cylindrical carrier slidably received in said retainer, a wheel rotatably mounted in said carrier and being movable therewith to dispose a portion of its perimeter beyond the said surface of the base member to make rolling contact with a flat plate or the like, and yieldable spring means in coaxial abutment with said carrier foi` normally maintaining the wheels in projecting position as aforesaid, said spring means being subject to being overpowered wherein said wheels may be depressed within the base member, thereby to permit the said surface of the base member to support the flat plate or the like.

8. In a base member having a fiat surface, a plurality of spring loaded roller assemblies mounted in the base member, each of said assemblies including a sleeve-like retainer received in said base member, a cylindrical carrier slidably received in said retainer, a wheel rotatably mounted in said carrier and being movable therewith to dispose a portion of its perimeter beyond the said surface of the base member to make rolling contact with a flat plate or the like, and yieldable spring means in coaxial abutment with said carrier for normally maintaining the wheels in projecting position as aforesaid, said plurality of assemblies being disposed in predetermined spaced relation, and a single longitudinal member cooperating with the said plurality of assemblies for maintaining the same in desired alignment.

GLENN B. BRITTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,042,336 Francis et al. Oct. 22, 1912 1,562,680 Bohn Nov. 24, 1925 2,077,190 Rishel Apr. 13, 1937 2,396,079 Bowen Mar. 5, 1946 2,509,297 Gotthardt May 30, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 571,026 France Jan. 25, 1924 

